Grave covering and setting



Nov. 8, 1932. G. H. WARTMAN GRAVE COVERING AND SETTING Filed 001'.. l2, 1931 2 SheeS-Sheef 135A Ziorn Nov. 8, 1932. G. H. WARTMAN GRAVE CovERING AND SETTING Filed Oct. l2, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet .ufff n u im fnvew/or af y mmv hi/SA E11, or n? g5 Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES GEORGE H. WARTMAN, F EDEN VALLEY, MINNESOTA GRAVE oovEnI'Ne AND SETTING Application md october 1a, 1931. semi No. 568,282.

This invention 'relates to grave coverings and settings.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a novel and improved grave covering and setting for use in connection with a casket lowering device to conceal the mouth ,of the grave until the casket is lowered into the grave by the lowering device and includfrom a position above the 'irnouth of the grave, as a casket is lowered'therein.

The objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the various views and in which, Fig. l is a perspective view showing the grave covering and setting embodying the Y mvention set up for use-in connection with a casket lowering device over a grave;

Fig. 2 is a transverse Vertical section taken through a grave with the grave covering and setting and the casket lowering device in position thereover, the movable parts being shown in one position with a casket supported upon the straps of the lowering device in full lines and the movable pa'lrts and the casket being shown in another position in dotted lines; y

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the grave covering and setting and the lowering device with the shrouds removed; t

Fig. 4 is -a view in side elevation of the parts as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustratin one ofthe brackets used for connecting an supporting the wingsof the covering and setting from the straps of the lowering device;

Fig. 6 is a view taken partly in section and partly in side elevation illustrating one of the posts that may be used, the parts bemg shown in one position in full lines and in another position in dotted'lines;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the post;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on lthe 60 line 8--8 of Fig. 6; i

Fig. 9 is a plan view illustrating one Acorner of portions of a slightly modified type of covering and setting; and f Fig. l0 is a vertical section taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. .9.

Referring to the drawings, a casket lowering device of standard construction is illus- ,trated including corner posts 11, side shafts ing side wings supported from the lowering A 10 device and adapted to be swung downwardly 12, end shafts 13 and webbing straps 14 extending between the two side shafts 12, the ends of the webbing straps being releasably secured to the shafts 12 and Wound thereon. A foot control pedal 15 is used` for controlling the lowering of the device, lwhile a detachable crank 16 may be used for -winding up the webbing straps 14 upon the Side shafts 12 before or after using the device. The lowering device is of substantially rectangular shape and is adapted to be set up and situated over an open grave whereupn a casket, such as the casket 17 shown Fig. 2, may be placed on the webbing .st v s 14. and the foot control pedal 15 pressed downwardly to permit the weight of the casket to carry the same downwardly 'f5 into Athe grave, the webbing straps 14 assuming a substantially U-shape as the casket is lowered into the grave and as the side shafts 12 rotate toward each other.

In accordance with the present invention, su as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, there are provided four posts set at the corners of a rectangle relative to each other and adjustable in hei ht. Although these posts may be variousy formed, in the illustrated embodiment each post includes an I-beam 18 to the lower ,end of'which a lbase plate 19 is secured.

Slidably mounted on the I-beam 18 for telescopic movement thereover is a leg 20 of substantially channel-shape in cross section. 904

The leg 20 has two flat sides fitting against the flat outer sides of the parallel webs of the I-beam 18 and a connectlng side bridging the corresponding edges of these Webs. The edges of the leg 20 are inturned as best shown 95 in- Fig. 8, to form short flanges between which and the adjoining sidesof the leg, the

remaining free edges of the parallel webs of the I-beam` are embraced. Vertically spaced slots 20a are cut in one side ofthe leg 20, 10c

any one of which is adapted to receive the tooth of a dog 21 pivoted to the central web of the'I-beam and the tooth portion of which normally projects through a slot 18a cut in one of the parallel webs of the I-beam. The dog 21 has a laterally offset lug 21a above the tooth and this lug is adapted to strike the inner surface of the slotted web of the I-beam to prevent the tooth of the dog being swung downwardly beyond a point where the tooth projects outwardly froln the slotted web of the I-beam to t within one of the slots 20a of the leg 20. A short bar spring 22 connected at one end to the slotted web of the I-beam 18 above the lug 21a, bears against the inner side of this lug and exerts resilient tension against the dog 21 to normally hold the tooth of the dog in its lowermost position. It will be readily seen that by swinging the dog 21 on its pivot so that the tooth of the dog will be carried upwardly and inwardly from the outer surface of the slotted web of the I-beam 18, the leg 20 will have freedom for vertical movement relative to the I-beam to permit a desired adjustment of the height of the post.

The leg 20 of each post carries at its upper end a top plate or platform 23 preferably havingyupturned flanges extending from the inner edges thereof. As has been stated, the four legs are arranged at the corners of a rectangle and this rectangle is preferably of greater length than width. Secured preferg ably to certain of the ianges of the plates 23 and extending longitudinally between opposing plates are side members 24 adjustable in length. Each side members 24 may comprise a pair of tubes 24a secured respectively to opposite plates 23 and a central rod or tube 245 telescoping within or over the tubes 24a. Adjustable lateral connection is made between opposite plates 23 by means of end members 25, each of which may consist as shown of a tube 25a connected to one of the oppositely disposed plates 23 and a rod or tube 256 connected with the other of the oppositely disposed plates 23 and telescoping within the tube-25a. With this construction, it will be seen that a rectangular frame adjustable both in length and width isprovided supported on posts or legs which are adjustable in height, and at the corners' of this frame there are provided platforms.

Wings are pivotally connected to the side members 24 of the frame thus provided to normally project inwardly therefrom in substantially a horizontal plane. Preferably there will be two wings connected to each side member 24. Each wing may consist merely of a rectangular frame 26 having one or more transverse braces 27 extending between the longitudinal members of the frame and straps 28 connected to the outer longitudinal member and having eyes through which the side member 24 adjacent the frame extends. The straps 28 preferably incline upwardly and inwardly somewhat from the side members 24 to the frames 26, so that when the frames of the wings are disposed in a horizontal plane, they will lie upwardly above the level of the side members 24.

To connect the wings with the webbing straps 14 of a casket lowering device, brackets29 are provided. Each bracket 29, as best shown in Fig. 5, includes a pair of links 29a interconnected by a pin 29b upon which a roller 290 is mounted and also interconnected by a rod 29d spaced from the pin 296 to form a slot between the roller 29e and the rod 29d. The rod 29d may have a downwardly offset central portion to which the eye of a hook 29e is connected. Four brackets 29 will be used. At least two shrouds 30 will also be provided. Preferably these shrouds will be flexible woven grass mats presenting the appearance of natural grass, although if desired, any type of iexible material'may be used.

In preparation for a burial and as best i1- lustrated in Fig. 2, the frame of the invention will be set up so that the posts of the frame rest on the ground adjacent the four jcorners of the grave as the grave A, and so that the side members 24 and the end members 25 are disposed in spaced relation above the ground. The posts will, of course, be adjustedin height, as determined by the layofthe round where the grave is situated, so that the plates 23 will be disposed at a common level. As the endmembers 25 can be adjusted in length and as the side members 24 can be adjusted in length, it will be seen that the frame may be set for use with a grave of any dimension. Vhen the frame has been set up as described, the casket lowering device may be placed in position so' that the corner posts 11 of the lowering device rest on the plates 23. Prior to use, the webbing straps 14 of the lowering device will be detached from the side shafts 12 and each webbing strap will be run through the slots between the rollers 290 and the rods 29d of two of the brackets 29. When thel webbing straps are again connected with the shafts 12 and the ends of the straps are wound on these straps, so that the straps extend approximately horizontally between the shafts 12, each strap will support two of the brackets 29 with the rollers 290 of the brackets overlying the straps 14. The shrouds 30 may now be laid in position over the frame, so as to cover the frame and wings. The shrouds will be run from the ground up over the posts and the side members 24 below the side shafts 12 of they lowering device and then upwardly over the frames 26 of the wings. The free inner edges of the shrouds at the longitudinal central portion of the frame may be overlapped as shown in Fig. 2. Portions of the shroud adjacent the particular ends of the frames 26 adjacent the end shafts 13 of the lowering device will be allowed to drop downwardly over the grave from these ends of the frames. Shrouds of sucient size andsuiiicient number will preferably be provided toblanket all portions of the frame. After the shrouds are in place, the brackets 29 will be drawn over the straps 14 to points adjacent the side shafts 12 andthe hook 29e of these brackets will be carried through portions of the shrouds and hooked onto the outer side members of the frames 26, whereupon the wings will be supported as shown in full lines Fig. 2, from the straps '14 and the wings will be disposed generally in a horizontal plane.

The open mouth of the grave will be completely covered and the grave will present an appearance in good taste with its surroundings.

The grave lowering device will now be ready for use. A casket, such as a casket 17 illustrated in Fig. 2, may be placed on the webbing straps 14 whereupon the foot pedal 15 of the lowering device may be pressed to allow the weight of the casket'l? to carry the same downwardly into the grave. vThe webbing straps 14 will, of course, unroll from the shafts 12 and the portions of these straps between the side edges of the casket and the shafts 12 will swing downwardly from substantially horizontal position to practically vertical position. Of course, the brackets '29 will be swung downwardly with the webbing straps and the wings consisting chiefly of the frames 26 will be swung from the full line position shown in Fig. 2 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, thereb allowing the casket to pass below the wings. rlihe rollers 290 will allow the stra s 14 to move freely through the slots of ty e bracket 29 without friction.

In Figs. 9 and 10 a slightly different embodiment of the invention is shown.k Side members 31 corresponding in construction to the side members 24 and running through the straps 28 of wings, are secured at their endsv parting from the scope of the same, which, be

generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is 4 '1. The combination with a casket lowering device adapted to be extended over an open grave, said-.device having rotatable side shafts covering and setting and they and webbing straps extending between and wound on said shafts, of side supporting members running parallel lto said shafts,

wings pivotally mounted on said supporting members and normally lprojecting inwardly from said side supporting members below said straps, slotted brackets through which said webbing straps extend and means 'for connecting said wings with said brackets whereby as a casket supported by said straps is lowered' into a grave, said wings will be swung downwardly by said straps.

- 2. The combination with a casket lowering device adapted to exten-d over an open grave, said device having rotatable side shafts and webbing straps extending between and wound on said shafts, of side supporting members running parallel to said side shafts below the same, wings pivotally mounted on said members and normally projecting inwardlyl from said members below said webbing` straps, rollers resting on said webbing straps, means applied to said rollers and connecting the same with said wings and shrouds overlying said members and ,said wings for covering the open lmouth` of the grave and adapted to be swung downwardly with said wings as a casket supported by said straps is low-v ered into the grave.

3. The combination with a casket lowering device adapted to be placed over an open grave, said device including rotatable side I Shafts and webbing straps extending between said shafts and having their ends wound thereon, of a frame including side members disposed parallel'to and below said shafts, wings pivotally connected with said side members and projecting inwardly therefrombelow the normal position of said straps, slotted brackets carried by said straps and through .which said straps extend, hooks carried by said brackets and connected with said wings and shrouds overlying said members f and said Wings and through which said hooks pass, said shrouds normally closing the mouth of the grave and adapted to be swung downwardly 'with said wings as a casket supported by said straps is lowered into the grave.

4. rlhe combination with a casket lowering device adapted to be placed over an open grave, said device including rotatable side shafts and webbing straps extending between said shafts and having their ends wound thereon, of a rectangular frame for support- 'I ing said lowering device above the grave, said frame having a post adjustable in height at each corner thereof and including side memrs running parallel to said shafts and located below the same, wings pivotally supported from said side members and normally projecting inwardly therefrom below said straps, slotted brackets supported from said straps adjacent said shafts and through which said straps`freely extend, @rollers carriedby. said brackets and -resting on said straps, hooks carried by said brackets and connected with portions of said Wings, and shrouds, through which said hooks extendJ extending' over said side members and Wings and under said shafts, said shrouds normally acting to close the mouth of the grave and bein@r swingable downwardly with said Wings as a casket supported by said straps is lowered into the grave.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.-

GEORGE H. WARTMAN. 

